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SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE DAMIAN
WHEN HE ANNOUNCED HIS SICKNESS
BY SAYING
WE LEPERS

THERE IS A BOND THAT GOES OUT
TO ALL ASSEMBLED

THAT SAYS
THIS IS SOMEONE FAMILIAR
WITH WHISTLING
PAST GRAVEYARDS

WE ARE MANY
YOUNG
OLD
MARRIED
SINGLE
CHRISTIAN
JEW
WHATEVER
WE ARE DIFFERENT
WE HAVE FACED THE BEAST

BUT WE ARE ONE

AND IN THIS ONENESS
I OFTEN HEAR
OR FEEL
THOUGH MANY
DO NOT KNOW HIS NAME
THE PRESENCE OF HIM WHO SAYS
WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED

HE IGNORES THE NAME RECOGNITION
AND STAND SILENT
READY TO HELP

BY NOT MAKING THE LAME MAN WALK
BUT TO FIND INNER PEACE
IN HIS LAMENESS



EXPRESSED
IN THIS HERD INSTINCT
TO HEAR ANOTHER’S PAIN
AND SHARE YOUR OWN

AND THE SPIRIT
BROODS OVER THE CHAOS
OF OUR LIVES
AND MAKES A NEW CREATION

THE TALK GOES ON
OF TREATMENTS
AND PAIN
LIFE CHANGES
CHEMO BRAIN
PHYSICAL CHANGES

BUT ALWAYS AND EVERYWHERE
I HEAR
THE SIBILANT
SOUND OF WINGS

FRANK A VOLLMER